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Structural Information from Oligonucleotides

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Structural Information from Spin-Labels and Intrinsic Paramagnetic Centres in the Biosciences

Part of the book series: Structure and Bonding ((STRUCTURE,volume 152))

Abstract

The important role of DNA in biology has been known for a long time, but during the last decade it has become apparent that also RNA has many more functions than previously believed, ranging from gene regulation to catalysis of the polypeptide bond formation in the ribosomes. Thus, biophysical methods are needed that will allow the unravelling of their structures and conformational changes as well as dynamics and complex formations. Advances in site-directed spin labelling (SDSL) of oligonucleotides and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic methods like pulsed electron–electron double resonance (PELDOR or synonymously know as DEER) offer a means to achieve this and have been applied to various oligonucleotide systems. This chapter will give an overview of recent developments and applications in this field.

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Abbreviations

CD:

Circular dichroism

CW:

Continuous wave

DEER:

Double electron–electron resonance

DMT:

Dimethoxytrityl

EPR:

Electron paramagnetic resonance

FRET:

Förster resonance energy transfer

NMR:

Nuclear magnetic resonance

PELDOR:

Pulsed electron–electron double resonance

TBDMS:

tert-Butyldimethylsilyl

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Acknowledgements

The BBSRC (BB/H017917/1) and the Wellcome Trust (13973) are acknowledged for funding and the Research Councils of the UK are thanked for an RCUK fellowship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, Centre of Magnetic Resonance, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, UK

    Richard Ward

  2. Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Bonn, Wegelerstr. 12, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Olav Schiemann

Authors
  1. Richard Ward
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  2. Olav Schiemann
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Richard Ward or Olav Schiemann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

    Christiane R. Timmel

  2. Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, and University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia

    Jeffrey R. Harmer

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Ward, R., Schiemann, O. (2012). Structural Information from Oligonucleotides. In: Timmel, C., Harmer, J. (eds) Structural Information from Spin-Labels and Intrinsic Paramagnetic Centres in the Biosciences. Structure and Bonding, vol 152. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/430_2012_76

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